Palusami (Samoan Taro Leaves Baked in Coconut Cream)
In short: Young taro leaves filled with onion-scented coconut cream, wrapped into parcels and baked until silky, a favorite at the Samoan Sunday umu. It takes about 1 h 25 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 1 h
- Resting
- 5 min
- Total
- 1 h 25 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 185 kcal
Palusami is a fixture of the Samoan Sunday umu, the earth-oven meal shared with family. Young taro leaves are wrapped around coconut cream seasoned with onion, bundled into parcels and cooked until the cream melts into the leaves and turns them dark and silky. At home, foil parcels in a regular oven do the same job. Serve it with boiled taro, green bananas or breadfruit.
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Stir the onion and salt into the coconut cream.
- Lay a square of foil on the counter. Overlap 3 taro leaves, vein side up, to make a shallow cup, and spoon in about 3 tablespoons of the coconut cream.
- Fold the leaves over the filling, then cover the bundle with a fourth leaf, tucking the edges underneath. Wrap the parcel tightly in the foil and set it on a baking tray. Repeat to make 6 parcels.
- Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, until the leaves are completely soft and very dark green and the cream is bubbling inside.
- Rest for 5 minutes. Open the foil carefully, away from your face, because hot steam escapes. Serve hot with the creamy juices.
Tips
- Taro leaves must be cooked until completely soft. Raw or underdone leaves can leave an itchy, scratchy feeling in the mouth and throat, so bake for the full time.
- No taro leaves? Use 600 g (1.3 lb) of spinach or silverbeet, wrap the same way and bake for 30 minutes.
Questions and answers
What is palusami?
Palusami is a Samoan dish of taro leaves filled with coconut cream and onion, wrapped into parcels and baked. It is traditionally cooked in an umu, the earth oven.
Where can I find taro leaves?
Look in Pacific, Asian and Caribbean grocery stores, where they are sold fresh, frozen or canned, sometimes labeled luau leaves or dasheen leaves.
What can I serve with palusami?
Boiled taro, green bananas or breadfruit are the traditional partners. Their plain flavor goes well with the rich coconut cream.
How long does it take to make Palusami (Samoan Taro Leaves Baked in Coconut Cream)?
About 1 h 25 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 1 h of cooking.
How many calories are in Palusami (Samoan Taro Leaves Baked in Coconut Cream)?
About 185 kcal per serving, with 6 g of protein, 10 g of carbohydrates and 14 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 185 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 6 g |
| Carbohydrates | 10 g |
| Fat | 14 g |
| Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 3 g |
| Sodium | 240 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
